The WNBA and WNBPA announced Thursday a tentative agreement on a new seven-year CBA featuring the first revenue-sharing model in women's professional sports history.
The WNBA and Women's National Basketball Players Association announced on Thursday that both sides reached a tentative agreement on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement covering the 2026 through 2032 seasons, pending ratification.
Players and the league's Board of Governors still need to sign off to ratify the deal.
The salary cap goes from $1.5 million in 2025 to $7.0 million in 2026. Projections put it north of $11 million by 2032. The league expects player salaries and benefits to top $1 billion over the seven years.
For the first time in women's professional sports, players will share directly in league and team revenue. The salary cap is tied to that growth, giving players a stake in every dollar the league generates going forward.
"This Collective Bargaining Agreement represents a defining moment in the WNBA's 30-year history and all of women's professional sports," Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said. "The agreement is a testament to that belief and to the tremendous progress we have achieved together."
Maximum salaries will be $1.4 million in 2026 and are projected to reach $2.4 million by 2032. Average salaries are projected to reach $583,000 in 2026 and exceed $1 million by 2032. Minimum salaries will range from $270,000 to $300,000 in 2026 based on years of service.
WNBPA Executive Director Terri Carmichael Jackson said the players accomplished what they set out to do.
"This agreement delivers what players set out to do from the beginning, transforming the economics of this league," Jackson said. "It marks a new era led by players who know their power and chose to use it."
WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike expressed her belief that this agreement furthers the effort to carry the game forward for players, not just teams.
“We’ve always believed that as this league grows, the players who power it must grow with it, and we’re proud to see that belief shared,” Ogwumike said. “We love this game enough to push for what it can become, not just for ourselves, but for those who built this league and those who will carry it forward. This agreement reflects that shared commitment, with players owning their value and future alongside a league growing stronger because of it.”
The deal formally ratifies charter flights for all teams, which projects to exceed $300 million over seven years. The league will hold teams to higher standards for facilities and medical staffing.
The rookie scale will face significant changes. The projected No. 1 pick in 2026 will earn $500,000. The 38 players already on rookie deals will see their salaries increase in line with the scale. Players on rookie deals will have a shorter timeline to qualify for a supermax contract if they earn MVP or an All-WNBA First- or Second-Team nomination.
There will be a significant increase in award bonuses. The MVP bonus will be $60,000. Players who win the championship will receive a bonus that increases from $22,908 to $60,000 per player. All-WNBA First Team honorees will receive $30,000, up from the previous $10,300.
The WNBA will make one-time recognition payments to retired players, including $100,000 for 12 or more years of service, $50,000 for eight to 11 years, and $30,000 for at least five years of service.
Rosters will expand to a minimum of 12 players and will include two new developmental spots per team that will not count against the cap. Additionally, veteran players with seven or more years of service cannot be designated Core Players beginning in 2027. Furthermore, the regular season will grow from 44 to 50 games in 2027, then further expand to 52 games in 2029 through 2032.